U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani | U.S. Department of Justice
A neurologist based in Pearland, Texas, has agreed to pay $948,359.85 to settle allegations of submitting false claims for neurostimulator electrode surgeries. The U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani announced the settlement involving Dr. Basem Hamid, who practices neurology and pain medicine in Houston through his entity Basem Hamid MD PA.
The period under scrutiny spans from August 27, 2019, to October 3, 2022. During this time, Hamid allegedly billed Medicare for surgical procedures that were not performed. Instead of conducting invasive surgeries that typically require an operating room and are compensated with substantial sums by Medicare, Hamid's clinic reportedly provided patients with electro-acupuncture devices.
These devices involved inserting monofilament wire into patients' ears and securing a neurostimulator behind the ear using adhesive tape—all conducted within his clinic without any incisions or hospital settings. Allegations state many patients experienced the device falling off after a few days due to adhesive failure.
U.S. Attorney Hamdani emphasized the importance of healthcare providers giving accurate service information for reimbursement purposes: “Individuals suffering from chronic pain put their faith in skilled medical professionals to help them find relief and improve their quality of life.” He added that misrepresentation undermines trust in the federal health care system.
Special Agent Jason E. Meadows from the Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General (DHHS-OIG) stated: “When health care professionals submit false claims to federal health care programs like Medicare, they erode public trust and divert taxpayer-funded resources away from those who truly need them.” Meadows noted that Dr. Hamid’s actions allegedly exploited Medicare for financial gain while misleading vulnerable citizens.
The investigation was led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office alongside DHHS-OIG with Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura E. Collins managing the case proceedings.
It is important to note that these resolved claims remain allegations without any determination of liability.